Rolling Stones gear up for first Israel gig

Ronnie Wood, guitarist for The Rolling Stones, seen visiting the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City on Tuesday, June 3, 2014, a day before the band's concert in Tel Aviv (Photo credit: Yonatan Sindel/Flash 90)

Legendary British rock group The Rolling Stones prepared for their first-ever gig in Israel Wednesday night, with band members visiting Caesarea and Jerusalem ahead of the show.

They only resumed a world tour in Oslo last week after interrupting it in March following the suicide of lead singer Mick Jagger’s partner, L’Wren Scott.

The Stones touched down in Tel Aviv Monday aboard their private jet, emblazoned with their tongue logo, accompanied by some 70 staff, according to local media.

Guitarist Ronnie Wood, drummer Charlie Watts and keyboardist Chuck Leavell travelled to Jerusalem Tuesday to visit its Old City; Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards did not join them. Jagger tweeted from Caesarea, and he and other band members were also spotted in a cafe north of their Tel Aviv hotel base.

Ronnie Wood, guitarist for The Rolling Stones, seen visiting the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City on Tuesday, June 3, 2014, a day before the band’s concert in Tel Aviv. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash 90

Part of the band’s European tour, the show is a historic visit — the first performance in Israel by one of the two bands that founded modern popular music. The other is The Beatles, whose Paul McCartney played at the same Yarkon Park venue in September 2008.

Israeli promoter Shuki Weiss, once quoted as saying he would retire after bringing the Stones to Israel, guaranteed the band $6.7 million (4.9 million euros) for the one-night stand at Tel Aviv’s Hayarkon Park, according to a newspaper report.

The band ignored pressure from pro-Palestinian activists, including fellow rock stars, to cancel the gig as part of a boycott of Israel over alleged human rights abuses.

Charlie Watts, drummer for The Rolling Stones, seen visiting the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City on Tuesday, June 3, 2014, a day before the band’s concert in Tel Aviv. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash 90

The Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions committee urged the Stones to abandon the concert, noting that the band had been vocal opponents of racial segregation in South Africa, comparing apartheid to Israel’s policies towards the Palestinians.

Pink Floyd founders Roger Waters, a relentless critic of Israel branded an anti-semite by the Anti Defamation League, and Nick Mason joined calls for a boycott.

Chuck Leavell, keyboard player touring with the Rolling Stones, seen visiting the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City on Tuesday, June 3, 2014, a day before the band’s concert in Tel Aviv (Photo credit: Hadas Parush/Flash 90)

Some artists have bowed to boycott pressure: US singer Lenny Kravitz cancelled a Tel Aviv concert in October after being petitioned by activists, citing a scheduling conflict. But this summer is witnessing a roll-call of artists coming to Israel. Justin Timberlake played here last week, and Foreigner, Tom Jones, Cyndi Lauper and Deep Purple played recently. Rihanna played last fall. Upcoming shows include the Backstreet Boys, the Pixies, Neil Young, and Lana Del Rey, America and Passenger.

Preparations for the large-scale performance began Sunday, ahead of what is expected to be one of the largest and most technologically sophisticated shows in Tel Aviv history. The stage will be decked with LED panels brought to Israel by the band, and a 34-meter (111-foot) catwalk will extend from the stage.

The playlist changes from show to show, according to Merav Lahav, part of the Shuki Weiss publicity team. “The Tel Aviv playlist won’t be released before the show.”